Berube's passion for coaching shows at U-16 trials

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Carla Berube got a taste of what it would be like working with USA Basketball a year ago as a court coach at the U-17 national team trials.

The former University of Connecticut star and the 15-year Tufts University women's basketball coach now has a full plate in front of her. She is at the United States Olympic Training Center here as the head coach of the U-16 team that will take part in the 2017 FIBA Americas Championship June 7-11 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

"Carol Callan (USA Basketball women's national team director) gave me a call around Final Four time and asked if I would be interested in being the coach for this," Berube said Thursday night. "And when Carol Callan calls you, you jump at whatever she needs. The opportunity to represent your country and USA Basketball is amazing.

"Last year working here definitely piqued my interest, and certainly that experience was important for USA Basketball and the committee. I guess they liked what they saw. It was such an awesome experience last year."

The U-16 trials, with 133 players in attendance, began Thursday and will run through Monday. The 12-player squad headed to Argentina will not only be looking to win a gold medal, but with a top-four finish can qualify Team USA for the 2018 FIBA U-17 world championships.

Berube will be assisted by Steve Gomez of Division II Lubbock Christian University and former Stanford standout Vanessa Nygaard of the Windward School in Los Angeles. She is the first college coach hired for the U-16 top job, with the head coaches in 2009, 2011, and 2013 coming from the high school ranks.

"I don't know what the differences are," Berube said. "I'm going to be me. I'm excited about the staff I have with Steve and Vanessa. I got to know Steve here last year and I've known Vanessa since when we played against each other. I'm excited with what they can bring to the staff. We have a good mix.

"I've never coached high school kids before so it will be an adjustment for me. They're awesome and they work hard and they're sponges at this age. They have a high ceiling. It's going to be great to teach and to see them get better."

Eight national teams will take part in the FIBA Americas Championship -- Team USA, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. The Americans have a 19-1 record in the event, with the only loss coming to Brazil in the 2013 semifinals.

The finalists announced Monday will take part in a training camp next week before heading to Buenos Aires.

"There will be a lot to do in those six days before we leave for Argentina," Berube said. "It's not just on-court stuff. It's off the court and developing the chemistry. There are so many facets to a successful team. I'm going to take what I've learned throughout my career as a player and coach and put together a team that's ready to go, one that's unselfish and plays hard and at both ends of the floor."

It's been 20 years since Berube, 41, graduated from UConn. Her playing days at Oxford (Massachusetts) High, the United States Olympic Festival (where she won a bronze medal in 1994), the Huskies and the New England Blizzard of the old American Basketball League were over by the time any of the players at the U-16 trials here were born.

But while demonstrating a drill here Thursday night, she caught the ball just above the foul line, turned, and appeared ready to take one of those 17-footers she made so often at Gampel Pavilion. Instead, she flipped the ball to one of the teenagers.

"Sometimes it feels like 20 years, like when I was doing stuff out there and was out of breath from doing a V cut," Berube said with a smile. "I can't believe it."

Berube's spent the last 15 years at Tufts in Medford, Massachusetts, about a one-hour drive from her native Oxford. She reached the 100-, 200-, and 300-win plateaus faster than her college coach -- Hall of Famer Geno Auriemma -- and her record of 330-88 is one win ahead of Auriemma's pace after 418 games.

The Jumbos have reached the Division III Final Four the last four seasons. In 2015, Berube was the WBCA NCAA Division III Coach of the Year and Tufts made its first national championship game appearance, falling to Thomas More College in Indianapolis.

Thirty wins and a season later, the Jumbos found their way back to the final game in March at Van Noord Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

"And then laid an egg," Berube said.

Against archrival Amherst, Tufts scored just two points in the opening 17:35 and trailed 20-6 at the break. The Jumbos got within seven in the third quarter before Amherst pulled away for a 52-29 victory. It was the Jumbos' third loss of the season, all to Amherst, though the first two games were decided by one and four points.

"It was an amazing season and I'm really proud of my team," Berube said. "It's not easy to make the Final Four and to do it four years in a row is quite an accomplishment. You keep knocking on that door and one day it will open. Our team will keep fighting and keep working hard. We're excited for the season ahead."

And, yes, she was in Dallas when her alma mater saw its 111-game winning streak and four-year reign as national champion end.

Berube knows what it's like to see an unbeaten season end in a national championship (1995), see an unbeaten season end without a title (1997), and lose in overtime in the national semifinals (1996). Still Morgan William's buzzer-beater in overtime that gave Mississippi State a 66-64 win over UConn at the American Airlines Center hit hard.

"Shock. I can't believe that just happened," Berube said of her original reaction. "But the whole game you were never feeling good about it. Mississippi State really took it to them. They got in their faces and played defense and weren't afraid. They were making plays. But you couldn't believe after all those wins and all those championships that the streak was finally over. But Mississippi State deserved to win.

"I've been on all sides of it."

One side Auriemma never saw in Berube was a future in coaching. Whenever he is asked about his coaching tree, he just about always brings up that the biggest surprise on it is Berube.

Twenty years after the last time she played for him, she'll be wearing a USA shirt on the sidelines during an international competition the way Auriemma did in leading the senior national team to two FIBA world championship and two Olympic gold medals.

"When I was at UConn, I never thought that I would be a coach," Berube said. "I was painfully shy and as a coach you can't be that way. He likes to joke about it because I never said two words. But he also knew that I loved the game and was a thinker of the game and had a pretty good basketball IQ. To actually lead a team and be so vocal, it makes sense he says that. But, hey, here I am. I found my passion."

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No. 1 UConn cruises past Tulane

Feb 21 | 10:11PM

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UConn vs. Tulane highlights00:02:16

The UConn women's basketball team traveled to New Orleans to take on Tulane and came away with another victory to push their record to 27-0.

Katie Lou Samuelson had 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for UConn (27-0, 14-0 American), which led by as many as many as 32 in the first half and built a lead as large as 48 in the final period.

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The players give their best Auriemma impressions

Feb 21 | 8:49PM

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Various players on the UConn women's basketball team try their hand at some impressions of head coach Geno Auriemma.

Various players on the UConn women's basketball team try their hand at some impressions of head coach Geno Auriemma.

Parkland tragedy hits home for Williams

HARTFORD, Conn. -- A moment of silence was held prior to the start of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's game with Temple Sunday to remember the victims of last Wednesday's shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

UConn All-American Gabby Williams was among those with her head bowed paying tribute. The tragedy hit home for the Sparks, Nevada, native as on Oct. 21, 2013, during her senior year at Reed High, a school shooting at Sparks Middle School left two people, including the 12-year-old perpetrator, dead and two others injured.

"It did happen minutes from my house, obviously not to the same extent, but it is just kind of like enough is enough, and when is something going to change," Williams said following the top-ranked Huskies' 106-45 win. "It hits home because I'm going to have kids who go to school one day and I have little siblings in high school so it definitely hits home."

Samuelson, Huskies keep rolling

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson reacts after a play against the Temple Owls in the first half at XL Center. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Katie Lou Samuelson has this habit -- not one of her best, she admits -- of when she drives to the basket and feels contact, she calls out, "And one," looking for a foul call.

The University of Connecticut women's basketball team's junior All-American's aggressive approach has developed since she first arrived here but she has taken her attack mode to another level in the last month even as she deals with an injured left ankle. It's one of the reasons that the buzz around her national Player of the Year candidacy continues to grow.

Samuelson's aggressiveness was rewarded Sunday as she completed a trio of the old-fashioned three-point plays to go along with four of her specialty, the 3-point shot. Her 27 points paced six players in double figures as No. 1 UConn routed Temple 106-45 in American Athletic Conference action before 13,110 at XL Center.

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UConn beats ECU, 84-80, despite Fleming's triple-double

Feb 18 | 6:24PM

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The UConn Huskies took on the East Carolina Pirates on the road and earned a narrow 84-80 victory, spurred by Jalen Adams' 26 points.

Connecticut put together one of its best offensive performances of the season. The Huskies needed it, because East Carolina's Isaac Fleming came up with another triple-double.

STORRS, Conn. -- Ten of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's 11 national championship campaigns included winning at least a share of its league's regular season title.

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Geno Auriemma discusses the most overused terms in coaching

Feb 16 | 7:27PM

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Geno on the most overused terms00:08:07

UConn women's basketball head coach Geno Auriemma discusses what he believes the most overused terms are while coaching basketball.

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On the Clock: Geno and Justine

Feb 16 | 5:40PM

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On the Clock: Geno and Justine00:02:09

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about offbeat happenings in the world of sports.

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about offbeat happenings in the world of sports.

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UConn lose 73-71 to Tulsa; Vital scores 20 points

Feb 15 | 9:50PM

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UConn's Christian Vital had a solid day earning himself a double-double, but the Huskies fell to Tulsa, 73-71, on Thursday night.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Sterling Taplin scored a career-high 30 points and Tulsa beat UConn 73-71, sweeping the season series from the Huskies.

Junior Etou had 15 points and DaQuan Jefferies added 14 for Tulsa (15-10, 8-5), which extended its winning streak to four on Thursday night.

Christian Vital had 13 of his 20 points in the first half for UConn (12-14, 5-8) when the Huskies built up a 12-point lead. The Huskies, who have lost five of their last six, led 40-31 at intermission.

Samuelson, UConn hold off Louisville

Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson reacts after a play against the Louisville Cardinals in the second half at Gampel Pavilion. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- Whether Katie Lou Samuelson can make a stretch run towards becoming the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's next national Player of the Year while dealing with her injured left ankle remains to be seen.

But it's hard to find many players around the country who are playing better than the Huskies' All-American guard is right now.

Samuelson gave UConn 40 minutes Monday night and scored 26 points as the top-ranked Huskies topped No. 4 Louisville before an announced sellout crowd of 10,167 at Gampel Pavilion.

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No. 1 UConn wins 25th straight with victory over No. 4 Louisville

Feb 12 | 8:59PM

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The UConn women's basketball team defeated Louisville, 69-58, on Monday night to improve to 25-0 on the season.

Katie Lou Samuelson scored 26 points and top-ranked UConn used an early run to beat No. 4 Louisville 69-58 on Monday night.

Napheesa Collier added 14 points and Gabby Williams had 12 points and 15 rebounds for the Huskies (25-0), who won their 76th consecutive home game and ended Louisville's 13-game road winning streak.

Louisville (25-2) scored the first three points and UConn rattled of 19 straight.

Dailey to be inducted into Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Connecticut Huskies associate coach Chris Dailey reacts during Senior Day before the start of the game against the Tulane Green Wave at Gampel Pavilion. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- The Geno Auriemma-coached 2000 United States U-18 national team was scrimmaging at Colorado College when Duke University-bound Alana Beard finished a stunning drive to the basket.

Auriemma blew his whistle and turned to where his assistant at the University of Connecticut, Chris Dailey, and Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt and her assistant, Mickie DeMoss, were seated in the small gym. They were watching as Team USA's roster included UConn-bound Diana Taurasi and Ashley Battle, and Tennessee-bound Ashley Robinson and Loree Moore.

He then looked over to Summitt and said: "Chris Dailey and Mickie DeMoss should be fired for not recruiting Alana Beard." Summitt nodded her head in agreement. They didn't get fired, though DeMoss did move on to other jobs. But this June they'll be together again in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dailey, the Huskies' associate head coach, is one of seven people who will be inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2018, it was announced Monday night. She will be the fifth UConn representative in the WBHOF joining Auriemma (Class of 2006) and former players Rebecca Lobo (Class of 2010), Jennifer Rizzotti (Class of 2013) and Kara Wolters (Class of 2017).

UConn, Louisville renew acquaintances

Feb 4, 2018; Syracuse, NY, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Walz reacts to a play against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at the Carrier Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports (Rich Barnes)

For nine seasons, they faced off in February, March, or even April.

But when Louisville left the American Athletic Conference for the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014, its women's basketball rivalry with the University of Connecticut that saw the teams play 16 times -- including two national championship games and three league tournament finals -- in those nine seasons went with it.

UConn beat Wichita State 124-43, two points shy of program points record,

Feb 10 | 3:30PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Napheesa Collier scored 26 points and Katie Lou Samuelson added 22 points to lead UConn to a 124-43 rout of Wichita State on Saturday in the first meeting between the two programs.

The 124 points was two shy of the program record, which was set against Providence in 1998.

Gabby Williams added 17 points, Azura Stevens 16 and Kia Nurse 14 for the Huskies (24-0, 12-0 American), who won their 75th straight home game, the third longest home winning streak in NCAA history.

In order to beat the University of Connecticut women's basketball team, you have to play them. Central Florida gets to do it as a member of the American Athletic Conference.

"Every time we play them, I think our team understands them more," UCF second-year coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson said following the Knights' 55-37 loss to the Huskies at CFE Arena in Orlando Wednesday night.

AAC newcomer Wichita State will get its first experience against No. 1 UConn Saturdaywhen the Huskies open a three-game homestand against the Shockers at the XL Center in Hartford (SNY, 1 p.m.). UConn has won 86 consecutive games against first-time opponents dating back to a loss to Georgia at Gampel Pavilion on Jan. 15, 1996.

Travel-weary Huskies ready for home cooking

Gary Apple and Kara Wolters break down the highlights from the UConn women's basketball team's 55-37 win over UCF on Wednesday night.

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Katie Lou Samuelson passes up 80-degree weather about as often as she passes up an open 3-point shot.

But the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's junior All-American and resident California girl was content to trade a warm winter night here for a wintry day in New England if it meant not getting on another plane for almost two weeks.

The top-ranked Huskies wrapped up another trip Wednesday night as Samuelson had 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists in a 55-37 American Athletic Conference win over Central Florida before an announced pro-UConn crowd of 6,155 at CFE Arena. They then headed home where winter and the first three-game homestand of the season awaits.

Huskies ride Williams' winning ways

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Gabby Williams has a unique way of filling a stat sheet, but has never been concerned about her numbers.

The All-American senior forward does make one exception and that's for the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's win total. She has been part of 134 of them heading into Wednesday's American Athletic Conference contest against Central Florida at CFE Arena (SNY, 7 p.m.).

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On the Clock with Geno and Justine

Feb 6 | 5:00PM

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On the Clock w/ Geno and Justine00:02:06

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about the off-beat things going on in the world of sports.

SNY's Justine Ward chats with UConn head coach Geno Auriemma about the off-beat things going on in the world of sports.

Huskies' offense thrives at the pass

Connecticut Huskies guard Kia Nurse reacts after her basket against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the second half at XL Center. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

HARTFORD, Conn. -- For the first time in program history, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team began a season with four 1,000-point scorers.

They didn't do it on their own.

Seniors Kia Nurse and Gabby Williams and juniors Napheesa Collier and Katie Lou Samuelson have combined for 5,736 points as Huskies. The foursome tacked on 79 to their total Sunday as No. 1 UConn rolled past Cincinnati 106-65 in American Athletic Conference action before 12,342 at XL Center. They also combined for 23 of the Huskies' 32 assists. Williams reached the 400-assist plateau Sunday, three days after Nurse got there against South Carolina.

UConn handily defeats Cincinnati, 106-65

Feb 4 | 4:24PM

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Napheesa Collier says she's proud of the fact that UConn never plays down to the level of its opposition.

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Huskies looking for another growth spurt

By Carl Adamec | Feb 3 | 5:36PM

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Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Napheesa Collier reacts with guard Gabby Williams after a play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the women's AAC Conference Tournament at Mohegun Sun Arena. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

Katie Lou Samuelson made her first and only shot, a layup, when the University of Connecticut women's basketball team beat South Carolina at Colonial Life Arena her freshman year.

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UConn stays close with no. 8 Cincinnati, loses, 65-57

Feb 3 | 2:30PM

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GEICO SportsNite: UConn00:00:53

UConn men's basketball saw great performances from Jalen Adams and Christian Vital, but the Huskies fell short against Cincinnati.

You can count one of the program's former rival coaches among those thinking Cincinnati can be a real factor come NCAA Tournament time.

"I think they've got an outstanding team that could get to the Final Four depending on who they play, the health, and if they bring their 'A' game," former Xavier coach and current CBS Sports Network radio analyst Pete Gillen told the Cincinnati Enquirer this week.

"You need a player that can make a big shot down the stretch," Gillen said. "I think Jacob Evans can do that. Gary Clark can do that. Usually those last games tend to be low-scoring. Coaches get a little conservative. You need guys that can put it on the deck and create. That, and great defense. Defense travels on the road and in your tournaments."

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Nurse's layup line not that easy

By Carl Adamec | Feb 2 | 11:00PM

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(Jonathan Dyer)

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- There are times that Kia Nurse makes 3-point shots look like layups.

But how the senior guard looks on layups has UConn coach Geno Auriemma wanting to pull some of his hair out.

"Kia explodes to the basket but the ball comes off her hand like at her palm," Auriemma said Thursday night. "I'm like, 'You're on the (Canadian) Olympic team and that's how you shoot layups?' "

Huskies have no problems with South Carolina

By Carl Adamec | Feb 1 | 10:55PM

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Connecticut Huskies guard/forward Napheesa Collier reacts with guard Gabby Williams after a play against the UCF Knights in the second half of the semifinals during the women's AAC Conference Tournament at Mohegun Sun Arena. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

Having played here two years ago as a sophomore, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's senior All-American was confident she and her fellow upperclassmen with experience here could handle anything reigning national champion South Carolina and a sellout crowd of 18,000 could throw at them.

The Huskies opened things up early to lead 53-24 at the half on their way to a 21-0 start for the fourth time in five seasons. They extended their NCAA mark with their 48th straight road win and, if anyone needed more evidence, marked themselves the clear favorite for another NCAA title.

No. 7 South Carolina (18-4) fell to 0-6 all-time against UConn and 0-15 in program history against No. 1 teams.

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No. 1 UConn challenges national champion South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- On Jan. 3, 1998, the University of Connecticut women's basketball team was welcomed by 24,597 orange-clad fans to Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. The 84-69 loss to Tennessee marks the only time in program history the Huskies have played the reigning national champion on the road.

That will change.

A crowd of 18,000 is expected here Thursday night as 2017 national champion and No. 7 South Carolina entertains top-ranked UConn for a non-league showdown at Colonial Life Arena.

Megan Walker had the best seven-day stretch of her young career with the University of Connecticut women's basketball team and she was rewarded for it on Monday.

Walker was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week for the first time. In league wins over Memphis and Tulane she averaged 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Her week-long surge actually began on Jan. 21 when she had a season-high 22 points to go with six rebounds and five assists over 32 minutes in a 113-57 win at Temple. She then had 10 points and six rebounds in the 93-36 victory at Memphis last Wednesday. Then on Saturday against Tulane at Gampel Pavilion, she had 13 points and two assists in a 98-45 triumph...

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UConn blown out on the road by Temple

Jan 28 | 10:20PM

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GEICO SportsNite: UConn loses00:00:50

The UConn men's basketball team continued their struggles Sunday night, falling to Temple, 85-57.

Huskies earn high marks off the court

Connecticut Huskies guard Kia Nurse after the game against the Memphis Lady Tigers at Elma Roane Field House. (Justin Ford/USA TODAY Sports)

STORRS, Conn. -- The University of Connecticut women's basketball team shot a near-school record 72.2 percent from the floor Saturday in its 98-45 American Athletic Conference win over Tulane at Gampel Pavilion.

But the Huskies were even better when it came to being represented Thursday at "3.0 night" during halftime of the UConn-SMU men's game. Nine players on the 12-player roster (75 percent) were among the 361 student-athletes honored by UConn's Division of Athletics.

STORRS, Conn. (AP) Katie Lou Samuelson scored 15 of her 19 points in the first half to lead UConn to a 98-45 rout of Tulane on Saturday and a 20-0 start to the season for the 11th time in program history.

Kia Nurse scored 14 for the Huskies (9-0 American Athletic Conference) and tied a career high with seven rebounds.

UConn had six players in double figures for the sixth time this season.

UConn confirms NCAA investigation of men's basketball program

Jan 26 | 8:13AM

Connecticut Huskies head coach Kevin Ollie yells towards his players during the second half of the game against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at the Reynolds Center. (Brett Rojo/USA TODAY Sports)

The University of Connecticut confirms it is the target of an NCAA investigation into its men's basketball program.

University President Susan Herbst, in a statement released Friday morning, says the school is committed to "a culture of compliance" and intends to fully cooperate with the investigation in a "thorough and transparent manner."

UConn (19-0, 8-0 American Athletic Conference) trailed only briefly in the opening minutes before beating Memphis for the ninth time overall and second time this season.

The Huskies routed Memphis 97-49 when the Tigers visited Dec. 31. The venue changed, but not the final result with UConn winning in a more smothering fashion despite coach Geno Auriemma pulling all but one starter in the third quarter. The Huskies held Memphis to fewer points in each of the first three quarters.

Dangerfield, Huskies head to Memphis

The opening minute of the University of Connecticut women's basketball team's game at Temple Sunday seemed more like the 41st minute of Thursday's game against Tulsa as the Owls scored the first six points.